Marley Jennings

Ms. Kristin Frey and Ms. Colleen Hecker welcome students to the nurses’ office.

In my everyday life there are some non-negotiables in my routine–simple things that I do out of muscle memory. For some students, these simple tasks are made more complicated or impossible due to health conditions, home life, or other factors.

Our school nurse and nurse tech, Kristin Frey and Colleen Hecker respectively, are here to help! Together, they work to make their space a safe environment for students who need it.

Ms. Hecker spends five days a week in the building with students. She is the Health Technician and helps with general health issues. Ms. Frey is at Rocky on Tuesdays and Thursdays and spends her other days at Webber Middle School. She is a registered nurse and since there are only about 20 in the district, her time is limited between her two schools.

For emergency situations they have spare clothes, menstruation supplies, socks, deodorant, tooth brushes, contact lens supplies and so much more. Sometimes when the unpredictable happens you just need extra support, and they can be a resource for that too.

For those with chronic illness or allergies, the nurses office is a great resource for medication, rest, emergencies, and more. For example, students with diabetes, the office does have emergency insulin for urgent situations.

When it comes to medication, students must have a signed document from a medical provider and a guardian/parent approval in order to self-carry medication or to keep it in the nurse’s office.

For some, the nurse’s office is an everyday resource because of chronic pain or illnesses. It’s important to understand that might be the case for your peers and know how to get help from the nursing staff.

One thing that students may not know is that for all field trips and sporting events the nurses are involved to make sure students with allergies, injuries, illnesses, etc. are known to the field trip sponsors. This is to ensure their safety and well-being while away from the school building.

Some students who have injuries, such as concussions, with a doctor’s note can come and rest in the office. If you’re not feeling well and just need a little lie down, they can offer a cot for a bit. Have a fever, they can check that too!

It’s important for Rocky students to know that they have a safe resource in the building for injuries, emergencies, health condition help, and so much more. Sometimes it feels impossible to get through an 8-hour school day in pain or feeling ill. Our nurses are here to help!

“We want students to feel welcomed and that the office is an awesome place! It’s always an open door and we want to provide these services,” Ms. Kristen Frey wants students to know.

You can find them in the front office in the back, opposite the deans. Go in sometime and say hello.